Lorengar, Pilar (1928—)

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Lorengar, Pilar (1928—)

Spanish soprano. Born Pilar Lorenza Garcia on January 16, 1928, in Saragossa, Spain; studied with Angeles Ottein, Carl Ebert, and Martha Klust.

Debuted in Madrid (1949), Covent Garden (1955), Glyndebourne (1956–60), Salzburg (1961–64), Metropolitan Opera (1966); named Austrian Kammersängerin (1963).

The Spanish soprano Pilar Lorengar had a long operatic career which led her from a youthful Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro (Marriage of Figaro) to a mature countess. Lorengar was successful in light opera and also sang in the zarzuelas (musical comedies) of her native land. As she performed in theaters throughout Europe, her reputation grew and finally in 1966 she appeared at the Metropolitan Opera, as she would for 12 seasons following. "Her once rather limited lyric soprano has grown surprisingly in volume and power," wrote one critic, "while still retaining its perfection of tonal beauty and resonance in the upper register."

John Haag , Athens, Georgia